Tuesday, 15 November 2011

A Two Day Seminar and an Inter collegiate debate competition for student teachers of Alappuzha district will be conducted at Sree Naryana Training College, Sreekandeswaram, Poochakkal, Cherthala in connection with International Human Rights Day in December 2011 (Dec 16 & 17, 2011). It is organized by Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai Foundation for Educational Research and Development (SPFERD) and Dr. N. P. Pillai Centennial Celebration Committee, in collaboration with the Council for Teacher Education(CTE), Kerala State Centre, Dr. T. R. Sivapalan Unnithan Foundation, Indian Adult Education Association(IAEA), Kerala Chapter and International Association of Educators for World Peace(IAEWP), Kerala Chapter.

Monday, 14 November 2011

I. M. Ed. Topper, St. Joseph College of Teacher Education for Women, Ernakulam.

In memorial of Dr. N. Vedamani Manual, Former Professor and Head, Department of Education, University of Kerala & Former UNESCO expert, a merit award was instituted at St. Joseph College of Teacher Education, Kovilvattom Road, Cochin, Ernakulam by one of his well wishers in 2009. From 2011 onwards this award will be sponsored by Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai Foundation (SPFERD). It consists a cash Rs.2000/- and certificate and will be presented at a function organized in the college.

II. Best Out-going Student- Teacher

(i) In memorial of Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai, one of the veteran teacher educators and a stalwart in the field of non-formal education, an award for Best Out-going Student-Teacher was instituted at JPETrainingCollege, Koorkencherry, Thrissur in 2009. It consists Cash award of Rs.1000/- and Certificate.

In order to spread awareness about the significance of Human Rights among student-teachers at secondary level, an inter collegiate debate competition was conducted in connection with International Human Rights Day on 10th December 2010 at PKM College of Education, Madambam, Kannur. It was organized by Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai Foundation for Educational Research and Development(SPFERD) in collaboration with the Council for Teacher Education(CTE), Kerala State Centre, Dr. T. R. Sivapalan Unnithan Foundation, Indian Adult Education Association(IAEA), Kerala Chapter and International Association of Educators for World Peace(IAEWP), Kerala Chapter. The participants of the competition were from different teacher education institutions of Kannur, Kasargod and Wyanad districts of Kerala.

Before the commencement of the competition, an awareness class on Human Rights: Protection and Violation was conducted for the benefit of student-teachers by Adv. P.R. Rajankutty, Kerala State Legal Service Authority and Adv. Manoj M. Kandathil.

The winner of the competition was Keyi SahibTrainingCollege, Karimbam, Kannur. The CrescentB.Ed.College, Pazhayangadi was declared as runner-up. They were presented with Dr. T. R. Sivapalan Unnithan Rolling Trophy. The best male and female debators were awarded with Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai Memorial Trophy and Dr. N. D. Joshi Memorial Trophy. All the winners were also presented with cash awards and certificates.

Born on 1st April 1935 at Kadavoor, Kollam KeralaM.A. (Sociology), M.A. (Politics), M.Ed., Ph.D.(Education)AIE (London) in Non-formal Education,Adult Education and Development (Edinburgh)Adult Education (West Germany)Lecturer and Reader, Department of Education, University of KeralaFounder Director, Centre for Adult, Continuing Education & Extension and Population Education Resource Centre, University of KeralaSuccessfully guided 35 Ph.D. theses in EducationPublished 17 books in English and 19 in Malayalam.

Published more than 200 Research/Article in National and International journals.Travelled widely all over India.Lead 18 member Afro- Asian delegates in Adult Education.Visited Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand and S.Korea under ASPBAE travell fellowshipMember, Indian delegation to the 5th ICAE Conference at Nairobi, Kenya.Held positions that range from regional to international levels.Trainer of Trainers.

Dr. K. SIVADASAN PILLAI FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (SPFERD)

(Reg. No.T.1556/08)

Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

The Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai Foundation for Educational Research and Development (SPFERD) is a non-governmental organization committed to the cause of the welfare of humanity through socio-cultural, educational and other developmental activities. Its Head Quarter is at Thiruvananthapuram

The major activities of the Foundation shall be:

1. To organize programmes to uphold the vision of Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai in the field of education particularly non-formal education

2. To promote short/long term researches in social science

3. To organize programmes to empower teaching fraternity

4. To promote and propagate value based education, peace and solidarity and work as an agency for the protection of human rights

5. To undertake projects to develop scientific persuit among the people

6. To publish educational books/journals

7. To elevate the Foundation to the status of a nationally reputed institute/research organization etc.

The Foundation was inaugurated in connection with Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai Commemoration Day on 8th November, 2008. A National Seminar on Lifelong Learning was held at Kerala Hindi Prachar Sabha, Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram. Since then every year the 8th November will be observed as COMMEMORATION DAY as a tribute to the Celebrated Personality, the great Guru of many educators.

The Foundation shall have Life Membership only. The Membership Fee is Rs.1,000/-. The administration of the Foundation is vested in the Board of Directors consisting 25 Directors of which 20 are Founding Members and 5 are Nominated ones.

Board of Directors of Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai Foundation for Educational Research and Development (SPFERD)

The inaugural session started off with an invocation by Kumari Parvathy and Kumari Dhanya, students of the Department of Music, University of Kerala. Dr. V. M. Sasikumar, Executive Director, Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai Foundation for Educational Research an Development (SPFERD), welcomed the dignitaries. He expressed his sincere gratitude for the spirit and enthusiasm shown by His Excellency Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas, Aux. Bhishop, Thiruvananthapuram Diocese. The support rendered by the Energy Management Centre, especially Shri. Dharesan Unnithan, Director, was also acknowledged. In the present context, the importance of educating the teacher education fraternity on the energy conservation was also highlighted.

The fond memories of Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai shared by Dr. K. Sivarajan, Principal, University Teacher Education Centre, Calicut and former Syndicate Member, SriSankaracharyaUniversity, Kalady, deeply touched the minds of friends, colleagues, teachers, well-wishers and students who were present in the auditorium. Dr. Sivarajan rightly remarked that the lamp lighted by Dr. Pillai is still spreading its radiance and the coming generation has to keep it alive and bright.

Shri. Panyan Ravindran, Member of Parliament, formally inaugurated the Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai Foundation by lighting the traditional lamp. He expressed his views regarding the deterioration in the dedication and commitment of the teaching community and commented that the vision and commitment of Dr. Pillai is always a model for the teaching community. The Foundation should stand for the delivery of his vision in the broader sense. As a Member of Parliament he assured all possible support for the functioning of the Foundation.

Shri. Palode Ravi, Executive Member, National Literacy Mission, New Delhi and Ex-MLA, released the logo of the Foundation. He recollected the efforts by Dr. Pillai for the materialization of National Literacy Mission objectives. He suggested observing Dr. Pillai's birth or death day as a day of commemoration.

Dr. N. A Karim, Former Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Kerala and President, Vakkam Moulavi Foundation formally inaugurated the National Seminar on Lifelong Learning. He appreciated the respect given to Dr. Pillai by instituting a Foundation. He also stressed the importance of Education and Development as highlighted in the title of Foundation, which should go hand in hand. Research projects should emerge from the Foundation, he added.

Dr. A. Sukumaran Nair, Former Vice Chancellor, MahatmaGanghiUniversity, Kottayam and President, Advisory Board, SPFERD delivered the Keynote address. Dr. Nair expressed his views in materializing a research publication related to Dr. Sivadasan Pillai's area of specialization. ‘Let this Foundation prove to be a means for fulfilling the unfulfilled work left behind by Dr. Pillai’, he added.

An essay competition on 'Contemporary Relevance of Lifelong Learning' was organized for teacher-trainees of Kerala. Ms. Sandhya M. S., St. Joseph College of Teacher Education, Ernakulam bagged the First Prize. The Second place was secured by Mr. K. R. Sabarinath, Govt. College of Teacher Education, Thiruvananthapuram and Miss Simi T. P., St. Joseph Teacher Training Institute, Ernakulam was the Third prize winner. Consolation prizes were given to Ms. Sreedevi A. P., and Ms. Lakshmi of St. ThomasTrainingCollege, Mukkolakkal, Thiruvananthapuram. The prizes were distributed by Prof. K. Jacob Mathew, Former Principal, Govt. College of Teacher Education, Thiruvananthapuram.

An exhibition of photographs on activities of Dr. K. Sivadasan Pillai as an academician, researcher, thinker, and social worker provided a chance for remembering his contribution to the community.

The Seminar session started off at 12.30 pm with the welcome speech by Dr. M. S. Geetha, Vice Chairperson of the Foundation. She emphasized the need and contemporary relevance of lifelong learning. Mrs. Padma Ramachandran, Former Chief Secretary, Govt. of Kerala and Former Vice Chancellor, M.S.University, Baroda, did the dual role of being the Chairperson of the session and also presented the Theme Paper on Lifelong Learning- A Global Perspective. She provided room on how it is easy to go the moon due to technological development but difficult to reach the village. She emphasized that teachers should read selectively and highlighted the need to take what is good from others. She also expressed her desire to bring out a documentation on Lifelong Learning by November 8, 2009.

The afternoon session started after the lunch at 2.15 pm with welcome speech by Dr. G. Valsala, Former Principal, Govt. IASE, Thrissur. Dr. K. Sivarajan, Pricipal, University Teacher Education Centre, Calicut, who chaired the session, commented on the new vistas opened by Open Distance Learning. The theme paper on Open-Distance Learning was powerfully presented by Dr. V. Reghu, Faculty Head, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development, Sriperumbudur, Chennai. The Vote of Thanks was proposed by Dr. M. Vijayakumari Amma, Reader, H. H Govt.College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram.

The valedictory session flagged off at 2.50pm with welcome speech by Dr. G. Suresh Kumar, Director, Finance, SPFERD and Chaired by Dr. M. G. Sasibhushan, Former Director, KSLMA. The resume of the seminar was presented by Mrs. Anila Chacko, Lecturer, St. ThomasTrainingCollege, Mukkolakkal. In his valedictory address Mr. Ramachandran Nair, Former Chief Secretary, Govt. of Kerala and Former Vice Chancellor, SriSankaracharyaSanskrtUniversity, Kalady expressed his strong protest against the present evaluation system- continuous and comprehensive assessment.